VLOG | How to Choose a Shredding Company

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Here’s an alarming statistic for you. According to a 2017 Ipsos study, 64% of data breaches are caused by human error - either by an external vendor or by an employee.

Sometimes employees just don’t know about the type of information they need to protect.

That’s why it’s so important that you get expert help when it comes to ensuring the privacy and safety of your business documents and other confidential information.

When choosing a document shredding company, be sure to consider the following:

Data Security Compliance Focus

They should understand laws, especially as they pertain to your industry. The shredding company you choose should be knowledgeable about information security legislation and best practices to help protect your reputation.

Company Hiring Practices

It should employ people who have undergone rigorous training and a background cheque. This is important because these people will be handling your confidential documents. This will give you peace of mind that your information will remain secure.

Provide Secure Equipment

The shredding company should never leave your documents unprotected or exposed and confidential information should never be sorted prior to shredding. By providing locked containers of different sizes, your information to remain inaccessible no matter the size of your workplace.

Secure Chain of Custody

Be sure they have a secure chain of custody from collection to destruction. Companies should shred all documents in a secure area where the security-screened specialist is the ONLY one with access to your confidential data.

Certificate of Destruction

Be sure they provide you with a Certificate of Destruction for your records, as proof your documents were securely destroyed. This way, if you are audited, there is a paper trail proving you were proactive with your information security.

Flexible Service Options

Make sure they have flexible service options that include more than just document destruction. Other services could include hard drive and other media destruction, or specialty shred services.

Focus on Recycling

Be sure they recycle all shredded documents therefore making a positive impact on the environment while saving trees along the way!

Certifications

Ensure it has information security certifications and accreditations. Knowing that they are handling such confidential information, it’s critical that your shredding vendor be NAID certified and PCI compliant. This way you know that their practices and processes have been validated by a trusted third party and your data will remain secure in their care.

Business Reputation

Be sure they have an excellent reputation and can provide references. Ensure the shredding company is well-established and has a good track record of helping businesses improve their information security.

By taking these factors into consideration when researching potential document destruction providers, you’ll be able to make a more informed choice about what shredding company to use to ensure peace of mind when it comes to protecting what matters to your organization.

To learn more about information security best practices, visit the Shred-it Resource Centre and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.